Free Willy
“How far would you go for a friend?”
Synopsis
When maladjusted orphan Jesse vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley, develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.
Part of the Free Willy Collection
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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Modern TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-11-01
Top Cast
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Jason James Richter
Jesse
Keiko
Willy
Lori Petty
Rae Lindley
August Schellenberg
Randolph Johnson
Michael Madsen
Glen Greenwood
Jayne Atkinson
Annie Greenwood
Michael Ironside
Dial
Richard Riehle
Wade
Mykelti Williamson
Dwight Mercer
Michael Bacall
Perry
Danielle Harris
Gwenie
Isaiah Malone
Vector
Betsy Toll
Passerby #1
Rob Sample
Passerby #2
Merrilyn Jones
Passerby #3
Mickey Gaines
Waiter
Justin R. Hall
Fish Thrower
Robert M. Duque
Fish Thrower
Release History & Theatrical Window
July 16, 1993
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 6, 1999
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$20M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$153.7M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
7.68x
+$133.7M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Simon Wincer
- Screenplay & Story
- Corey Blechman, Keith Walker
- Original Score
- Basil Poledouris
- Original Title
- Free Willy
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, France
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Budget
- $20M
- Worldwide Gross
- $153.7M
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures, Le Studio Canal+, Regency Enterprises, Alcor Films, Donner/Shuler-Donner Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Simon Wincer
Corey Blechman, Keith Walker
Basil Poledouris
Robbie Greenberg
O. Nicholas Brown
Jennie Lew Tugend, Lauren Shuler Donner, Richard Donner, Arnon Milchan
Department Leadership Roster
Jennie Lew Tugend
Producer
O. Nicholas Brown
Editor
Charles Rosen
Production Design
Simon Wincer
Director
Lauren Shuler Donner
Producer
Robbie Greenberg
Director of Photography
Corey Blechman
Screenplay
Basil Poledouris
Original Music Composer
April Ferry
Costume Design
Keith Walker
Screenplay
Dennis Scott
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
General — Suitable for all audiences.
General — Suitable for all ages.
FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Free Willy.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Free Willy.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Free Willy
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Free Willy about?
When maladjusted orphan Jesse vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley, develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.
Who directed Free Willy?
Free Willy was directed by Simon Wincer.
Who stars in Free Willy?
The principal cast of Free Willy includes Jason James Richter, Keiko, Lori Petty, August Schellenberg, Michael Madsen.
When was Free Willy released and how long is it?
Free Willy was released in 1993 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
What was the box office and production budget of Free Willy?
Free Willy had a reported production budget of $20M and grossed $153.7M at the worldwide box office (7.68 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Free Willy?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Free Willy was composed by Basil Poledouris.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Free Willy?
Free Willy holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); CA: G (General — Suitable for all ages.); DE: 0 (FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).